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| Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States |
As may be apparent in some of my other blogs, I am all about reading unorthodox and unconventional history. I think that its important to look at history from all sorts of different angles, and ultimately reach one's own conclusion about which one makes the most sense, and where the truth really lies.
I started reading about "Silent Cal" for this reason. The typical story you get of him is this:
"He was President in between World War 1 and the Great Depression. He was a silent, boring man, that just kind of sat there while things were good."
This doesn't do him justice at all.
The three books that I read were "Coolidge" by Amity Shlaes, "Why Coolidge Matters: Leadership lessons from America's most underrated President" by Charles Johnson, and "Silent Cal's Almanac by David Pietrusza. These three books opened my eyes to a lot of things that aren't commonly known about the man.
I think that this is completely overlooking how great of a man he really was. He didn't have any wars or economic crises to rise to, and didn't pass loads of executive orders, unlike his successors. So he's seen as kind of a "do nothing leader"
I would argue the exact opposite. Coolidge accomplished several things, respected the separation of powers, and in many ways serves as a role model for today's leaders. The mainstream today seems to forget that the President's job is to execute the law (hence the name "executive" branch), not impose what he wants, when he feels like it.
John Calvin Coolidge, was born on the 4th of July (amazing to think that a man with that birthday would become President), in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. Coolidge's family ran a farm, and was somewhat involved in local politics.
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| Young Calvin |
Coolidge lost his mother (she was 39, he was 12), and sister both at a young age. This had a powerful impact on his demeanor, which made him more shy and withdrawn. He was said to run and hide in his room, whenever his father invited people to house.
Calvin studied at Amherst College. Although very shy at first, Coolidge really shined when he spoke and his fellow students and faculty saw just what kind of mind he had. He studied under the tutelage of Professor Charles Garman, whose works he kept alongside himself for the rest of the life, including while he was in the White House. Garman instilled in him a deep philospohical reasoning, and religiosity (both were Congregationalists).
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| Charles E. Garman |
He was admitted to the bar, and became a "country lawyer", opening his own law practice. He practiced law, earning a good reputation as a hard worker and a powerful thinker. He became a regular lawyer for local banks and businesses.
Entrance into the political sphere:
The Republican party dominated the Massachusetts political scene, and New England in general at the time. The party at this time was still "the party of Lincoln" meaning in favor of a central bank, trade protection (tariffs), federal subsidies to agriculture and education, and the party of civil rights. Coolidge belonged to the party mostly because of his father and Garman's influence, as well as where he lived at the time.
An audio clip of Calvin Coolidge talking about Republican Principles
In 1898, he was elected to the Northampton City Council. He was a "Progressive Republican" pushing for women's' suffrage, and the direct election of senators. (Under the original Constitutional structure, senators were originally appointed by the state legislatures until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1911.)
In 1905, he met Grace Goodhue, his future wife. She was one of the earliest first ladies with a college degree, and taught at the "Clarke School for the Deaf". Perhaps the polar opposite of him, Grace was very talkative, outgoing, and loved lots of visitors, especially once they were in the White House.
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| The official White House portrait of Grace Coolidge with their dog "Rob Roy". It currently hangs in the White House "China room". |
In 1906, he was elected to the Massachusetts State legislature. He served two terms, and then returned to Northampton where he was elected mayor in 1910.
In 1915, he was encouraged to run for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, and won. He decided to run for Governor when in 1918, the current governor decided not to serve another term. His main running points were fiscal conservatism, women's suffrage, and a desire to win World War 1 for the Allied powers. He called the overthrow of European monarchies the "newest shot heard 'round the world."
Here's when Calvin faced his first real political challenge:
The 1919 Boston Police strike:
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| Governor Coolidge inspecting state militia men, instrumental in ending the strike. |
The post war world was very tough for everyone. Cities had been annihilated, and the world's banking and financial system was completely wrecked, through massive borrowing and deficit spending. Many of the gains made during the Industrial Revolution were completely destroyed.
Inflation caused by the influx of money to pay for the war drove prices up . From 1913-1919, the cost of living rose by 76%. In addition to this, wages barely rose. Police officers only saw an 18% increase in their salaries. Coolidge himself even publicly said: "Can you blame the police for feeling as they do, when they make less than a street car conductor?"
The police had other complaints as well: they worked 75-90 hours a week, had to live in run down police stations that were built before the Civil War, (The houses were said to be so unclean, that rats would chew on their leather helmets) weren't paid for their time spent in court, and were required to do other tasks (such as deliver mail) unrelated to their jobs.
In order to help resolve their problems, the Boston Police appealed to Samuel Gompers, the head of the "American Federation of Labor", one of the most powerful unions in the country at the time. The organization had gained much strength during World War 1, during which unions were given government protection. Gompers himself was even appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to the Council of National Defense, and made Chairman of the Labor Advisory Board.
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| Samuel Gompers, Leader of the American Federation of Labor |
We all learn about the "Sherman Anti Trust Act", which we are told was designed to break up monopolies. One fact that often isn't told to us, was that it outlawed unions as well. This changed with the "Clayton Anti Trust Act" signed into law in 1914. The law allowed for unions, and protected them. Like many policies, it has been debated as to whether this policy was really made in the interest of the public, or just to satisfy certain government constituencies. It should also be pointed out here, that the Republican party at this time was generally sympathetic to unions, being that it was the "progressive" party.
Despite orders from the Police Commissioner Edwin Curtis not to join the AFL, the police did anyway. On September 9th, 3/4 of the Boston Police force walked off on the job, and left the city to fend for itself.
Boston descended into chaos. Teenagers threw rocks at cars, store windows were smashed, and looting occurred. There was also a permeating fear that there would be "sympathy strikes", meaning other public employees such as firemen, would strike at well.
To restore order, Boston Mayor Andrew Peters dismissed Curtis, and appealed to Governor Coolidge to send in the State Guard. Coolidge agreed. Gompers and the strikers pleaded with the governor, but he wouldn't give in. Regardless of how the commissioner had acted, the police shirked their duty, and put many lives in danger. The police were all fired, and Curtis was reinstated. Coolidge sent Gompers a telegram including this message:
"There is no right to strike against public safety, anywhere, anytime."
The State Guard stayed in the city until replacements could be hired. The replacement police were given higher salaries and more vacation days.
Coolidge's handling of this event was well received publicly. The Soviet Union had come to power about 2 years early, and many in Washington feel that Bolshevism was spreading to the US, via the growing power of the labor unions. This action cost Coolidge some political allies, but gained him some as well. He was seen as a firm, decisive leader, that enforced the law. He worried that this decision might cost him reelection for his governorship, but he stood on principle regardless. He even said: "It doesn't matter whether I am elected or not." (Why can't this be the case today?!)
Road to the White House:
This decision put Cal in the national spotlight. In the 1920 Republican primary, Coolidge was chosen to be a candidate for President.
Very importantly, President Woodrow Wilson sent him a letter. The letter both congratulated him on his reelection as governor, as well as his decisiveness in handling the police strike. This was a big deal, coming from the leader of the opposing party, the current President of the US, and a man that vigorously supported unions. Wilson wrote:
"I congratulate you upon your election as a victory for law and order. When that is the issue, all Americans must stand together."
Coolidge ultimately lost the nomination to Warren G Harding of Ohio. Since he was a popular runner up , he was chosen to be Vice Presidential candidate in the election of 1920.
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| President Warren G. Harding and Vice President Calvin Coolidge |
Harding and Coolidge ran on the platform of "A return to normalcy", to quote Harding. This meant cuts to government spending, a reduction in taxation, less foreign intervention, and a return to limited and Constitutional government. The country had seen much upheaval between the early 20th century and World War 1, and these two ran on a promise to return to the way things were.
It should also be pointed out that this is the first election that women were able to vote in (the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in August of 1920.), and they voted overwhelmingly for the Harding/Coolidge ticket.
Harding and Coolidge won in a landslide. Nearly 2/3's of the counties in the US voted Republican. This was most likely due to the declining economy, and desire to change the status quo.
Coolidge's time as Vice President was fairly uncontroversial. He was the first VP to sit on cabinet meetings, mainly due to the fact that Harding valued his opinion. Coolidge didn't feel that he fit in with Washington society, mainly due to his shy, standoffish personality, and his country roots. He could be a very eloquent speaker when he wanted to be, but that was if he felt like speaking at all.
There is a famous story, where he sat at a dinner table, and the matron said: "I made a bet with a friend that I can get more than two words out of you." His response?
"You lose."
The recession of 1920-21:
Here is an important event that isn't often talked about, yet could be instructive in politics today.
The inflation of the money supply during World War 1 caused a boom, which lead to a bust occuring in 1920. Some economists say that this had to do with the end of World War 1, (meaning troops coming home looking for work, and war industries shutting down.) which I believe is true to an extent, but not the full story. Unemployment peaked at 11.7% (in some major cities, it was as high as 20%), and the stock market lost about 1/3 of its value.
Harding's response? He did NOTHING, except for cutting government spending and taxes. The top marginal rate (that is for the income tax rate for the highest earners) was lowered from 77%, down to 58%. The Federal Reserve had its interest rates at 7% (not 0% where they are now).
Here is another key point, and I feel that many don't realize the reasons for this today: Wages and prices were allowed to fall, to meet their natural place on the supply/demand curve. Harding even said in a speech that he would allow this to occur.
Why is it okay to let wages fall? I will explain: When the recession hits, all the businesses that were created by "malinvestment" (businesses that created by easy money, and which there was no real demand for) should be allowed to liquidate (be closed ,and the assets sold). This will create unemployment, which means less money being spent and invested. This pressures businesses to cut prices and wages in order to respond to the new supply and demand. A grocery store, for instance, will have to cut its prices in order to move its inventory before it expires. The store may take a loss in profit, but it would be better than losing everything.
Now initially, it sounds bad that people will be making less money. However that is only one part of it. It's important to consider what the purchasing power of the wage is.
If prices fall 30%, but wages fall 20% technically that's a gain for the workers. Employment, living standards, and production can remain nearly the same. All that will change is the numbers on the price tags and paychecks.
Now this process doesn't happen overnight, and getting through it is the painful part (the recession). However, it's what's needed for long term, sustained, economic growth.
Here are the results from Harding's decisions:
After 1 year, unemployment was at 6.7%. The year after, it was 3%. The stock market recovered as well.
Let's contrast this with the Great Depression, during which we had unemployment in double digits, for a little more than a decade, up until the start of World War 2. So even if it is true, that this recession was caused by the troops coming home and war industries shutting down, the turn around was very quick. The troops coming home, and the people working in war industries almost all found jobs within 2 years.
To put it simply: businesses have incentives to produce things , workers have incentives to find jobs, and investors want to make money. If government gets out of the way, and makes it easier for these things to happen, the economy will bounce back in due time. True economic growth comes bottom up, not top down.
White House ascent:
President Harding died of a heart attack while on a speaking tour in 1923. Coolidge was staying at his family home at the time. The house did not have electricity or telephone yet, so he was informed via telegram. He was sworn in by his father, who was a notary public at 2:47 AM by kerosene lamp. (Since there was some debate as to whether this ceremony was legitimate, Coolidge was given a formal ceremony in Washington DC.)
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| Vice President Coolidge, taking the oath of office as administered by his father. Grace Coolidge stands directly behind him. |
President Calvin Coolidge in the White House:
The country wasn't really sure what to think of their new President. He had kept a low profile during the Harding years, and Harding's reputation had been hurt by corruption, most notably the Teapot Dome scandal. Fortunately for Cal, he had no ties to any of it, and immediately distanced himself from Harding's scandals as much as possible. He did however, state that it was his intention to continue many of Harding's policies.
He served from 1923-24, finishing out Harding's term, and then decided to run on his own. He chose Charles Dawes, A general who served in World War 1. as his running mate.
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| Coolidge and Dawes |
Coolidge experienced heartbreak in 1924 shortly after his party's convention. His son, Calvin Jr. developed an infection from a scrape that lead to blood poisoning (remember that antibiotics back then weren't what they are today), and died that year. This sent Coolidge into a depression, which he never fully recovered from.
Coolidge and Dawes won every state, except for the states in the South and Wisconsin. The results were nearly the same as 1920.
Although he could have ran in 1928 for a second full term, he decided not to. He was heartbroken from his son's death, and felt this would affect his ability to do his job properly. He chose instead to retire, and campaign for Herbert Hoover that year.
Taxation:
Coolidge believed in lowering the income tax on everyone. He cut taxes 4 out of his 6 years in office. He brought the top rate down from 50% in 1922, down to 25% by the time he left office. (This is the lowest that it has ever been in recent times. Reagan had it slightly higher at 28%, but it was raised while he was in office and after) He said: "I want the American people to work less for the government, and more for themselves."
Here's an important piece of information: By 1927, only the richest 2% of the country was paying any income tax. Although Coolidge is classified as a "conservative", this is definitely something that even modern day progressives can agree with. Between the strong economy and spending cuts, everyone could have their taxes reduced. The tax revenues, (The tax dollars collected by the government) went from $77 million a year to $230 million a year during the time that he was in office. This was done at the advice of Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, said to be so influential that three Presidents (Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover) served him.
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| Treasury Secretary, Andrew Mellon |
Budget:
The budget was ran in surplus every year of the 1920's. (Which of course is the opposite of today. The only time that we even had a surplus in recent years the one that was projected at the end of Bill Clinton's second term.) The surplus revenue was used to pay off 1/4 of the National Debt, which went from $22.3 billion in 1923 to $16.9 billion in 1929. (Again, nothing like today where all politicians do is add to it.) Harding had paid off a portion of the Debt as well when was President.
Coolidge vetoed several spending bills during his time in office. He has been criticized for this, and been portrayed as sort of a "Scrooge" like figure because of it.
I think there lies a deeper wisdom here, though. Take for example his decision to veto farm subsidy bills:
Agriculture was struggling hard during the 1920's. Many in the United States had entered farming during World War 1, mainly because agriculture in Europe was being destroyed/in danger from the war. After the war ended and Europe was rebuilding itself... fewer and fewer people needed to be in farming. This meant that too many Americans were in farming, making it hard for them too compete. This was great for consumers, because food prices stayed low, but very hard for the farmers to get by. Coolidge, the son of a farmer even said, somewhat coldly but accurately: "Farmers have never made much money. I believe we cannot do much about it."
The reality here was that the farmers just needed to get out of farming and find other jobs. Unfortunate, but just a reaction of supply and demand in the market.
Coolidge knew this reality, so that's why he vetoed subsidies. He also saw that giving farm subsidies then would open up the door for corruption, (As it clearly has today. Millionaire farmers, like David Rockefeller get our tax dollars funneled to them.) and become a permanent entitlement that would be hard to take away, because politicians would be afraid of losing their political base if they did.
Economy:
It has been debated by many historians and economists whether the 1920's was a period of real sustained growth, or a house of cards that was destined to collapse.
My findings are that the truth draws from both stories, but for different reasons.
Much of the growth that occurred during the 20's was real.
-Average households, particularly in rural areas, gained electricity for the first time.
-The price of cars dropped low enough so that the average person could buy one. Automobile ownership increased three fold in a decade.
- Toasters, refrigerators, and vacuums became commonplace. The early stages of air conditioning started to emerge.
-Unemployment averaged at 3.3% (At one point, it was as low as 1.5% which is our record!)
- Industrial production increased 70% from 1922-28
-The length of the average workweek decreased by 4%
- Per capita income (on average, per person) increased by 30%
- Real wages increased 22%
- Consumer prices rose at only 0.4% (They would have come down had the Fed no expanded the money supply as stated below)
The reason for the stock market crash in '29 was unrelated to the things mentioned above. The problem was that the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve at the time.
During World War 1, the major countries (except for the United States) got off the Gold Standard. (See my blog about the Federal Reserve if you don't know how this works already.) This was so they could run their printing presses in order to pay for the war. The problem with this, was that they had highly depreciated currency after the war was over.
The Bank of England was cozy with the leaders at the Fed during this time, so they asked for a favor. Since lots of gold was flowing out of England and into the United States (where it could be exchanged for American Dollars, which had greater purchasing power.), the British were worried that their currency would be seen as worthless, unless this was halted. They got the Fed officials to boost inflation in order to match their depreciated pound, particulary in 1927. Much of this money found its way into the stock market, which lead to a stock market bubble, and then bust.
(Friedrich Hayek won his 1974 Nobel Prize for writing about this theory behind the cause of the Great Depression. Hayek as well as a few others, predicted the crash ahead of time, but many mainstream economists were completely baffled when it happened. There has been lots written on this, and since this blog is more about Cal, I don't want to go off on a tangent. I can direct anyone to reading material if they want to read more about this particular subject.)
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| Austrian economist, Friedrich Hayek |
That being said, what role did Coolidge's policies have in the stock market crash and Great Depression that followed?
In my view, very little. As demonstrated above, the crash had to do with bad monetary policy, both here and abroad. It was not caused by low taxes, low demand, not enough government spending, etc. Some have cited this era as being a time when the gap between the rich and the poor widened. There's an easy explanation for that: Just stop and think about who would have more money invested in the stock market, the rich, or the poor? And why did so many millionaires become paupers overnight when the market crashed?
My understanding, is that Coolidge underestimated the damage that the Federal Reserve could do if left unchecked. The head of the Federal Reserve, Benjamin Strong also died in 1928, which lead to lots of bureaucratic infighting and general incompetence at the Fed.
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| Benjamin Strong |
Coolidge, for the most part, was a believer in the free market. He was in favor of tariffs, which was a plank of the Republican platform, going back to Lincoln's time. The rational being that tariffs will protect foreign industries from competition, and allow domestic industries to grow.
Although I agree with many of Cal's policies, this wasn't one of them. Generally, trade protection makes everyone poorer. Since foreign goods are made more expensive, this allows domestic producers to charge more than they would with free trade. Without the tariff, consumers can buy what they want for less money. The spare money left over, can be spared and invested elsewhere. And the foreigners will have more money, which they can use to buy more goods in other countries and grow their industries.
Many of the economists I read from are generally opposed to tariffs, because free trade is a win-win action of mutual benefit.
Coolidge on Women's Rights:
In this matter, Coolidge was very ahead of his time.
As stated above, women voting overwhelmingly for the Harding-Coolidge ticket in 1920. Here's an excerpt from one of his speeches to women's right supporters during the election of that year:
" Women have a natural and indispensable place in the affairs of state. We do not want solely a man's world, or a woman's world- we want a human world, and we are rapidly achieving it. The does not mean that men and women are to become alike. Rather it requires each of us to make his or her peculiar achievement. Fortunately, no two of us are alike. Our civilization will be sturdy and satisfying, rich and dependable just in proportion as we deepen rather than decrease the difference between men and women."
" We welcome women into full participation in the affairs of government and the activities of the Republican Party. We earnestly hope that Republican legislatures in states which have not yet acted on the Suffrage Amendment will ratify the amendment, to the end that all women of the natural voting age may participate in the election of 1920 which is so important to the welfare of our country."
"What men owe to the love and help of good women can never be told."
"Why not?"
I admire this view, because although it has a traditionalist streak to it, it is very modern at the same time. He believed that the genders have distinct roles to play, but deserve equal protection by law and opportunity.
During this time, the current president Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day as a National holiday. Coolidge himself called for a Father's Day, but felt that it was up to that states to decide to celebrate it.
Coolidge on African Americans:
Coolidge first came into power at a time when the country was very divided, perhaps as much as it is today. The Ku Klux Klan saw a rapid rise in the early Twenties, yet a decline as the decade progressed.
This was mainly due to anti-immigrant sentiment that had occurred after World War 1, and the people in the government at the time. Woodrow Wilson was also a notorious racist, (he was originally from Virginia, and was the last US President to have grown up in a house with slaves.) who re-segregated Washington DC, and played the film "The Birth of a Nation" which glorified the Klan, publicly at the White House. Wilson also outlawed interracial marriage in DC, and fired blacks in government and replaced them with whites.
Coolidge, by sharp contrast, denounced racism where he was it. He said:
"We shall have to look beyond the outward manifestations of race and creed,because God has not bestowed upon any race a monopoly of patriotism and character."
During World War 1, upon being told that the Germans thought the American Army was inferior, due to having black soldiers in its ranks:
"What the Germans say in scorn, let us say in praise. We have bought before for the rights of all men irrespective of color. We are proud, to fight now with colored men for the rights of white men. It would be fitting recognition of their worth, to send our American negro, when that time comes, to inform the Prussian military despotism on what terms their defeated armies are to be granted peace."
Although that scene never did come to pass, it was a great speech and actually bears some resemblance to what Alexander Hamilton said in a letter to John Jay, that the slaves ought to earn "their freedom with their muskets."
After the War upon receiving a letter:
"I was amazed to receive such a letter. During the war, 500,000 colored men and boys were called up under the draft, not one of whom sought to evade it. They took their places wherever assigned in defense of nation of which they are just as truly citizens as are any others."
A few more quotes:
"Our Constitution guarantees equal rights to all our citizens, without discrimination on account of race or color. I have taken my oath to support that Constitution. It is the source of your rights and my rights. I propose to regard it, and administer it, as the source of the rights of all the people, whatever their belief or race."
" If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final."
"A colored man is precisely as much entitled to submit his candidacy in a party primary, as is any other citizen. The decision must be made by the constituents to whom he offers himself, and by nobody else."
"Numbered among our population are some 12,000,000 colored people. Under our Constitution, their rights are just as sacred as those of any other citizen. It is both a public and a private duty to protect those rights."
As you can see, Coolidge doesn't fit the stereotype of "racist Republicans", so many court historians have overlooked this aspect of his character.
He tried to pass an "anti lynching" bill through Congress, but the Democrats at the time, filibustered it. He also appointed some African Americans to government positions.
It should also be pointed that during this period, black illiteracy decreased from 45% in 1900, to 16.4% in 1930. The number of black babies dying at birth dropped by half, and their overall life expectancy was rising. And black unemployment was on par with, and some years even below white unemployment.
Let us think about this last point for a second... we are told today that the reason black unemployment is higher than white is due to racism, but if that's the case... how is it that black unemployment was lower than white unemployment in the 20's, 40's, and 50's when Jim Crow was in full swing, the Klan was far more powerful, and there were still lynchings going on?
Coolidge on Native Americans:
"The Indian, though a man without a country, who has suffered a thousand wrongs considered the white man's burden and from mountains, plains and divides, the Indian threw himself into the struggle to help throttle the unthinkable tyranny of the Hun. The Indian helped to free Belgium, helped to free all the small nations, helped to give victory to the Stars and Stripes. The Indian went to France to help avenge the ravages of autocracy. Now shall we not redeem ourselves by redeeming all the tribes?"
"They tell us that you are the thirtieth President of this great country, but to us, you are our first President."
- Message from a Sioux chieftan to President Coolidge, 1927.
There had been much debate as to how Natives would be handled in the United States. Going all the way back to Jefferson, there was talk of them assimilating and intermarrying with whites, but this wasn't always accepted. During the late 19th century, the country launched the "Indian Wars" to kill them and drive them off their land. This culminated in the "massacre at Wounded Knee".
In 1887, Massachusetts Congressman Henry Dawes supported the formation of Indian reservations. This lead to the "Dawes Act".
The act was woefully inadequate. The Natives weren't given much land, and the land was often taken from them by white men who found ways to manipulate the terms in order to buy the land at a cheap price. It did however sow the seeds for reform.
In 1924, Coolidge signed the "Indian Citizenship Act", making Native Americans citizens of the United States, whereas previously they had to apply for citizenship. Coolidge himself was said to be of partial Native blood, far back in his family tree. Signing this act helped bring the two peoples together. Several tribes made Coolidge an honorary member, and the Sioux Tribe gave him the title "Leading Eagle". He even donned a headdress, as pictured below.
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| President Coolidge standing with members of the Osage tribe. |
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| "Leading Eagle" |
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| President Coolidge signing the Immigration Act of 1924. |
Coolidge was generally for immigration, but wanted it to happen in a legitimate and ordered fashion. He also felt that it was important immigrants learned English and American history, and participated in the American political process. Immigration he believed should happen in a gradual process, allowing the newer peoples to assimilate to their new culture. On this he said:
"We are all agreed, whether we be Americans of the first of of the seventh generation on this soil, that it is not desirable to receive more immigrants than can be reasonably be assured of bettering their condition by coming here. For the sake of both those who would come and more especially of those that are already here, it has been thought wise the danger if increasing our numbers too fast."
"Immigration restrictions are not an offensive, but a defensive measure"
I think this is a very reasonable position today, with our nation divided, our economy in dismal shape, wages stagnated, and the crime that has come in. People who view stricter immigration laws as "racism" are missing the point entirely.
This was actually a more "progressive" position for that time. Many (including some in Coolidge's own cabinet) wanted immigration to be based on eugenics tests, meaning only certain ethic groups that fit the "ideal standard" would be allowed in. There would be quotas, especially harsher ones posed on the "lesser peoples".
There was also an economic argument for stricter immigration measures: Newer workers often meant people that were willing to work for less, and hence artificially depressed wages. This is definitely true today, especially in both construction and food service.
If the average construction worker makes $12 an hour, but there is an influx of immigrants willing to work for $8 an hour, the employers will most likely hire the new ones (and possibly get rid of the old ones) in order to save money. This also helps widen the gap between the rich and the poor, a frequent topic of discussion in our country today. This economic argument also appealed to many of the labor unions, that he alienated after the Boston Police Strike of 1919. They were worried that new waves of immigrants would suppress their wages.
There was also debate as to how to handle Japanese Americans in American society. There was much prejudice towards foreigners, especially from Asia. The 1924 Immigration Act drawn up called for more Northern and Western European immigration, limits on Southern and Eastern European immigration, and total exclusion of immigrants from Asia. Coolidge personally admired the Japanese, and simply wanted limits on them, not outright exclusion. On this he said:
"I regret the impossibility of severing from its exclusion provision, which in light of existing law, affects especially the Japanese. I gladly recognize that the enactment of this provision does not imply any change in our sentiment of admiration and cordial friendship for the Japanese people, a sentiment which has, had, and will continue to have abundant manifestation. The bill rather expresses the determination of the Congress to exercise its prerogatives in defining by legislation the control of immigration instead of leaving it to international arrangements."
So Coolidge was ultimately forced to compromise on his principles. Perhaps he could have issued an executive order, but didn't out of the respect of the separation of powers.
Coolidge on foreign policy:
Coolidge was not an isolationist, but tried to avoid entangling alliances. In the audio clip placed earlier in this blog he stated:
" I shall avoid involving ourselves in the political controversies of Europe, but I will do what I can to assist American citizens and resources in restoring Europe."
"I believe in the permanent cost and further limitation of armaments. I am opposed to aggressive war."
Certainly the current day Republican party could learn from this, no?
The primary Coolidge foreign policy achievement was the "Kellogg-Briand Pact" designed to achieve world peace after World War 1. The pact itself failed, however it did lay down the basis for International Law, which lead to the formation of the United Nations after World War 2.
Coolidge also had our troops withdrawn for the Dominican Republic.
Herbert Hoover:
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| Herbert Hoover, Commerce Secretary to Presidents Harding and Coolidge, and 31st President of the United States. |
Herbert Hoover served as Commerce Secretary to both Harding and Coolidge. Coolidge simply decided to retain him after Harding passed away.
His position had few official duties, and sort of a vague responsibility.
Coolidge and Hoover couldn't have been any more different. Hoover believed in government intervention to solve problems, Coolidge believed in laissez faire. Hoover believed that higher taxes and more government spending would aid a struggling economy, Coolidge believed in letting malinvestments liquidate, and nature run its course. Hoover was well traveled and a "man of the world", while Coolidge seemed to be the stereotypical New England farmer.
Coolidge said regarding Hoover:
" For 6 years the man has given me unsolicited advice. All of it bad."
Coolidge also nicknamed him "Wonder Boy", for his desire to step in and micromanage problems.
Coolidge signed the bill for the "Hoover Dam" in 1928, his last year in office.
Nevertheless, Coolidge agreed to help him campaign for the Presidency in 1928 (which he got).
Decision at Rushmore:
In 1927, the Danish-American artist John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum decided to carve a monument in the "Black Hills" region of South Dakota. The idea for presidents was from the historian Doane Robinson, believing that something like this would boost tourism in the area.
Coolidge wanted these 4 Presidents, because he wanted Presidents that had the biggest impact, and included 2 Republicans, Washington, and one other.
The original plan was to sculpt the Presidents in marble from head to waist, but unfortunately Borglum passed away before he could finish. His son agreed to take up his father's mantle, but underfunding stopped the project to the point it stands at today.
Retirement and later life:
Coolidge decided to retire in 1928, to return to his two family home that he lived in previously on Massasoit Street in Northampton, MA. (I would like to point out here too, that my grandmother frequently drives by this house. She lives in Easthampton, a nearby town.) Upon being constantly berated by visitors, he decided to move away to a more spacious home called "The Beeches."
Coolidge wrote his autobiography, as well as a newspaper column called: "Calvin Coolidge says", for which he got paid $3,000 a week (Quite a lot back then.)
Hoover was becoming very unpopular by 1932, due to the failing economy. There was talk of recalling Coolidge, and having him run as their candidate. Coolidge refused, saying that he had no desire to ever run again. Coolidge was willing to speak on Hoover's behalf, both on radio and live.
In 1933, Coolidge died of a heart attack while shaving. He was only 60 years old. He had remarked to a friend shortly before: "I feel that I no longer fit in with the times." (Wow, how I can relate to that!!!)
Here was buried in his hometown of Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
Legacy, and why Coolidge matters today:
It should be quite obvious why I admire this man, after reading this blog. I feel that he has been treated poorly by Statist (A "statist" is a person that feels the government is the solution to all of our problems) historians, who will only praise a President based on the number of bills they sign, bureaucracies they start, executive orders they ram through, and what sort of entitlements they promise.
If we had leadership like this from this point till now, we would most likely not be $18 trillion in debt, overtaxed, and have a failing economy.. What we have today supercedes Coolidge's worst nightmares.
He held more offices than ANY President: City Councillor, Mayor, State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, Vice President, and President. He ran in many elections, and rarely lost.
He was the last "Jeffersonian" that really believed "the government which governs best, governs least." He cut government spending to less than 2% of the National Income, and paid down the National Debt.
He not only preached, but also practiced fiscal responsibility, and cut taxes for everyone, rich and poor alike.
His critics would say that he was inactive, but I would say that he did his job correctly. He faithfully executed the law as designated by the Constitution.
He was loved by the people, and was pressured into running again.
I would highly recommend these above books at the start of this blog to everyone. This greatly underrated President needs a reexamination.
Thank you all for reading, and I will write more real soon!
- Stephen
